There is an ever-growing demand for professional photographers today in pregnancy photography. Maternity photography can be challenging concept because you are technically documenting a mother’s body as her child grows within her. Pregnant women can look beautiful in their maternity photos, you just need to plan your shoot and have a few techniques up your sleeve. I’ve listed a few tips that are sure to help you plan your next pregnancy photo shoot.

It is a good idea for you to be present at your shoot at least an hour early. This will help you zone in and be mentally present as well as set up your camera and equipment.

It might be wise to carry some fresh food along to outdoor shoots in case the mother experiences hunger pangs in the middle of your photo shoot.

Playing some mood music is advisable as it will help the mother and the father relax and keep calm.

When it comes to the clothes you want your client to be wearing, think carefully. You want something that fits well and accentuates the curves of the mother as well as shows off the baby bump.

Opt for colorful clothing and watch your pictures come to life; pregnancy is a time for celebrating the new life that is soon to arrive.

Make sure you clear the clutter in the background, if you’re shooting at the client’s home. You want the house to look serene and peaceful before the baby arrives.

Taking your pictures from a higher anger above the mother will flatter her body shape and make her seem slimmer apart from the baby bump.

In case the father or other family members are not present, make sure you keep letting the mother know that she is doing a good job and reassure her. This will go a long way in getting her to look relaxed, calm and confident in pictures.

Your job as a professional specializing in maternity photo shoots is to give the expectant mother a memorable experience. The souvenir of which will be the amazing photographs of her cherished pregnancy!

As a corporate photographer you will be faced with the prospect of several events; these can range from corporate dinners to Christmas or birthdays parties. If you are an amateur in the field of corporate photography my advice on how to prepare for and handle these photo shoots will serve you well.

1) Blend in

It is necessary to look like a professional at a corporate event. At an event where you are surrounded with your clients dressed in tuxedos and dinner jackets, the dress code is obviously formal. Make sure you find out from your clients what the dress code is, and dress appropriately to blend in. Believe me; you definitely do not want to stand out as the only one in casual attire.

2) Get the schedule

It is crucial for a professional event photographer to know the itinerary and the complete schedule of the event beforehand. By knowing the schedule you can figure out when they need you the most; be it during dinner or photographing the key-note speakers at the event.

3) Do not interrupt

Most of people will readily pose and allow you to photograph them when they see you approach; however, it is best to be as unnoticeable as you can. Important people may not like to be interrupted from deep conversations to pose for pictures. Do not attempt to pitch in and engage in conversation; it is their event and your job is merely to photograph it.

4) Do not consume alcohol

Corporate often have open bars, this does not mean that you get a free pass to drink. Act like a professional and avoid accepting a drink even if it is offered to you.

5) Do not photograph people eating

Eating food can be messy and so will your photographs be if you click guests with food in their mouth. It can also be severely irritating to people and you must refrain from doing this. It can be a good idea to have a large meal before the event, in case it is a long one.

The availability of several digital platforms has taken corporate photography to a whole new level with better equipment and more demanding clients. Armed with these basics you can certainly make your mark as a pro!

Sale of real estate thrives no matter what the state of the economy and so does real estate photography. This is because, when realtors find themselves in trouble selling properties, beautifully crafted shots of real estate can make all the difference in setting their properties a class apart. Being successful in real estate photography is all about what you do differently. You can set yourself apart and be leagues ahead of the competition.

Planning the Shoot

While planning out the shoot itself, you can map out the expectations of the shoot way ahead of time. Ensuring that you have the needs of your client covered is crucial, as your images need to showcase the property as the owner wants it to appear. Your client will generally want the main living areas, bedrooms and bathrooms captured. You need to communicate to your clients that the home must be in photo condition at the time of the shoot; especially when you are photographing a home currently inhabited.

If the home is uninhabited, your realtor may be there during the shoot. You may want to let them know how long they need be present during the photography process. For amateurs in real estate photography, you may want to make sure you equip your clients with web based images as well as full resolution photographs. Realtors working on tight schedules scarcely find time needed to process the images, which is why I prefer giving them images ready to go to their listing systems.

At the Scene

Once you are done getting the agreement setup, you venture onto the estate ready to click away. Let’s walk through certain steps to streamline the process.

After surveying the interior, you can dive in at the scene. Remember to capture images in a way that is aesthetically pleasing and intensifies the beauty of the home. While setting up the tripod, some photographers tend to extend it to the maximum height to shoot from ‘eye level’. I would not recommend this because the camera gets pointed downwards creating “converging verticals”. Ideal height I’d say, is about 4.5 feet high, so you get all the walls of the room vertical in the frame.”

Next, I’d shoot a series of bracketed images. These are shots from the same spot, with varying exposures, ranging in brightness and darkness that I can merge afterward using Photoshop.

Such a premeditated, pre-planned photo shoot that you can afford in real estate photography, is what sets it apart from other photographic disciplines.